Natural 9

I was at Fat Dadddy's in York Saturday night to hear Natural 9. They are quickly becoming Central Pennsylvania's (and the triviaguy's) favorite band! The rule of thumb with a cover band: If you are going to cover someone, protect them with a solid interpretataion of the song. If a song is a copywright, then copy it right. From the time Natural 9 opens the mic with a the Black Eyes Peas "I Gotta Feeling", you truly get a feel the band is something special. Shawn Boksan's tenor-plus range is Perry-esque. It is a sound few front men can carry. (At least not without cracking a few high ones.)

Natural 9, altough not scientific in nature, seems to have s 'natural selection' of what to play appeasing all audience members. Transitioning from 80's hits like Billie Jean, (in which Shawn seems to hit every Michael falsetto flawlessly), to Whitesnake's "Here We Go Again"... to Journey classics "Faithfully" and "Don't Stop Believin'", the group plays with accurracy, accented with a cool confidence on stage. (Even daring to play..."Jessie's Girl?")

Tom on drums is steady with a cadence of pure nosatlgiac fun and fervor. Sean (the other white 'beat') on lead guitar bellows out riffs from the likes of Gun's n Roses and Bon Jovi. He plays rhytym to Kyle's kickin' bass on dance patterns like Akon's "I Wanna Make Love na na na na" Wyclef Jean's '911', Montel's "This is How We Do It"... and the energizing tune "Let Me Clear My Throat." Natural 9 finds a steady groove all night and does not let up.

Eric on keyboard is superb. His keyboard take on Toto's "Africa" is so dead on, you feel like it is 1982 all over again. The synth sounds of other 80's classics like "Jump" come to life like an MTV remote control on auto pilot.

And if retro doesn't get the feet tappin', there's always a Keith Urban medley to get the boots and booty hopppin'.

The key to Natural 9's success is their inate ability to relate to their audience. At one point Shawn even offers up audience requests. "If we don't know it...we'll do our damndest to make it close," he jokes. During breaks the band mingles with their fans and gives them a glimpse of the personal touch that sets them apart. They are truly naturals at making music fun all over again.